Hearn v Warren: UK fans missing out on cross-promotional event

Phil Jay 22/11/2017

For all the animosity past and present between the Hearn’s of Matchroom Boxing and the Warren’s of Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, a coming together could potentially be highly beneficial for both parties.

Staging an annual event between the two promotions seems to have gone under the radar due to the rivalry of the organisations but would prove a profitable endeavour if made a reality.

Pitting seasoned campaigners or stable champions against each other in the headliner and adding an undercard of undefeated prospects going head-to-head in British or regional title bouts, is a showpiece that seems a shame to have not come to fruition in recent years.

Both Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren are enjoying their own successes, although fight opportunities continue to be missed due to an ongoing tentativeness to do regular business.

The likes of James DeGale, once of Hearn and now connected to Warren, will likely not go up against Callum Smith in 2018 as once hoped, whilst new super-welterweight Kell Brook battling Liam Smith is another star attraction currently out of bounds.

Young light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde, making a name for himself as a knockout artist, going up against Joshua Buatsi would be a mouth-watering prospect for the coming year.

The most high-profile fight to go astray recently was an all-Manchester collision between Terry Flanagan and Anthony Crolla, which is now all the more unlikely after the former relinquished his world title and moved up in weight.

All manner of bouts would be on the table if Hearn and Warren decided to stage one show simultaneously per year and which could be alternated between their respective channels.

BoxNation could televise one year and Sky Sports the next, ultimately seeing the fans happy as the cross-promotional bouts they craved would have the opportunity to be made at least once in a twelve-month period.

Below are examples of potential match-ups for the event if Hearn vs Warren took place in 2018 – for instance: